Saraki pleads not guilty to false asset declaration charges thrice

Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki has pleaded not guilty to charges of false asset declaration a third time.

The federal government had amended the charges it filed against Saraki, necessitating a fresh plea.

On February 8, Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel, brought a notice of an amendment to the charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

He said the amendment was based on evidence that had already been tendered‎ at the tribunal.

‎In September 2015, the government filed a 13-count charge of false asset declaration‎ against the senate president. Saraki took his first not-guilty plea at the time.

And in February 2016, the government amended the charges, adding three additional alleged offences, which made them 16.

But on Thursday, two more charges were added‎, making them 18.

The ‎case was in progress at the time of filing this report.